Emergency control apparatus for well pumping and drilling mechanism



May 7, 1940.

c. R. ATHY 2,199,583

EMERGENCY CONTROL APPARATUS FOR WELL PUMPING AND DRILLING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 4, 1957 Gum 3 Sheets-Sheet l c. R. ATHY 2.199.583

AND DRILLING MECHANISM May 7, 1940.

EMERGENCY CONTROL APPARATUS FOR WELL PUMPING Filed Oct. 4, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1940- c. R. ATHY 2.199.583

EMERGENCY CONTROL APPARATUS FOR WELL PUMPING AND DRILLING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 4, 19s? s Sheets-Sheet 3 F WWW 48a 45' fi 19 44: 35a

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Patented May 7, 1940 Q UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE EMERGENCY CONTROL APPARATUS FOR WELL PUMPING AND DRILLING MECHA-' NISM Clifford R. Athy, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to International-Stacey Corporation,

Columbus,

This invention relates to an automatic safety control mechanism for use in connection with well pumping or drilling apparatus, the general object of the invention being to provide automatically operated switch mechanism so arranged or mounted that in the event of mechanical failure of one'or more of the essential operating parts of the well pumping and drilling mechanism, the operation of the latter will be automatically discontinued and the operating power shut off.

In my prior application, Serial No. 104,469 filed October 7, 1936, I have disclosed safety control means of this character involving a normally closed control circuit in which automatic switches are disposed, the switches being of a type to maintain the circuit closed so long as the well pumping and drilling mechanism is operating normally but in the event of mechanical failure, the said switches operate to open the circuit so that the operation of a prime mover for the well pumping and drilling mechanism is arrested.

It often happens, however, that in locations where well pumping and drilling mechanisms are used, electric current is not readily available and a supplemental source of electrical energy must be used, such, for instance, as a storage battery set. The maintenance of storage batteries for continuous current delivery involves some considerable difiiculty and when all of these factors are considered, the use of the normally closed control circuit is not entirely satisfactory.

The present invention, therefore, has for another of its outstanding objects the provision of safety control appliances involving automatically operating switches disposed in a normally open circuit or circuits, the arrangement of the circuits and the positions of the switches therein being such that in the event of failure of one or more of the essential driving parts of the well pumping and drilling mechanism, the switches will be operated to close the normally open circuit and operate on an associated prime mover to arrest its operation and the consequent delivery of power to said mechanism.

In accordance with the present invention, well pumping and drilling mechanism is provided comprising an oscillatory walking beam pivotally mounted on a suitable supporting base, the forward end of the beam being provided with a cable attaching head and the opposite end there of with a transversely extending equalizing momber, the ends of the latter member being connected by a pair of pitmans with a pair of revolving cranks suitably driven by an electric motor or an internal combustion engine. In this instance, the present invention provides the equalizing or cross member with a pair of relatively angularly. disposed mercury switches arranged in a normally open control circuit, and operative upon transverse movement or distortion of the cross member or equalizing bar to complete the control circuit and shunt or interrupt the operation of the internal combustion engine or electric motor employed for driving the walking beam.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of associated switch mechanism for said control circuit in which the associated switch mechanism is carried by the outer end or pumping head of the walking beam and is automatically operative to effect the closing of the control circuit and the interruption of power to the well pumping and drilling mechanismin the event of mechanical failure of the tool supporting cables or other means suspended from the head of the walking beam.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a well pumping and drilling rig provided with the switch mechanism comprising the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view in side elevation disclos-' ing the forward or hanger end of the walking beam and associated switch mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the mechanism disclosed in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the switch mechanism and disclosing the pivotal arm thereof and associated mercury switches;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line V-V of Fi 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail View on the plane indicated by the line VI--V'I of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is adiagrammatic view disclosing the circuit wiring and associated switches when the prime mover is in the form of an electric motor;

Fig. 8 is a similar view when an internal combustion engine is used as the prime mover.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the sub-frame of a geared type of pumping and drilling mechanism is indicated at I. Arising from the frame I' is a Samson post structure 2, carrying at the upper end thereof bearings 3 for the rocking support of a walking beam 4. The outer end of the walking beam is provided with the usual head 5 with which cables, or other well drilling or pumping tools, are connected. At the opposite end of the walking beam is a longitudinally extending stud 6 upon which is mounted for limited rocking movement a transversely extending equalizing bar i. The opposite ends of this bar are provided with pins 8 to which are pivotally connected the upper ends of a pair of twin pitmans, the lower ends of the latter being similarly connected with wrist pins l0 extending from the outer ends of a pair of crank arms ll carried by the opposite ends of a gear driven shaft l2. This shaft is: journaled for rotation in connection with a gear housing l3, bolted or otherwise secured to the sub-frame I, and motion is imparted to the gearing (not shown) contained within the housing by the provision of a suitable prime mover, as indicated at I4, which may be in the form of an internal combustion engine or electric motor, the same having been illustrated as mounted. directly on the frame I.

The equalizer bar I is utilized to unite spaced pitmans with the power-receiving end of the walking beam, and may rock about the axis of the 'stud 6 to compensate for inequalities of alignment which may exist between the crank arms II and the walking beam. In this instance, the equalizer bar I carries a pair of reversely inclined mercury switches I5 which are arranged in a casing I6, stationarily mounted on one side of the equalizing bar at a position between the stud 6 and one of the ends of said bar. These tubes are so disposed that the fluid conductor contained therein is normally spaced from the spaced terminalsl! carried by one end of each of said switches, one of the terminals of each switch being connected with a conductor l8 while the other terminal of each switch is connected with a complemental conductor 19. The conductors l8 and I9 are joined with the leads 20 of a multiple phase electric motor Ma. The conductor [9 includes the coil 22 of a magnetic switch 23. When the control circuit C, comprising the conductors l8 and I9 and the switches l5, l6 and I1 is closed, the field formed by the coil 22 operates the switch 23 to open the leads 20 of the motor Ma, thereby interrupting the operation of said motor and discontinuing the application of power to the pumping mechanism. Preferably the switch 23 requires manual resetting to reclose the motor circuit.

In the event the prime mover takes the form of an internal combustion engine, as shown in Fig. 8, the switches l5 have certain of their terminals I! connected with a single conductor 24 which leads to the positive side of the magneto 25 of the internal combustion engine, while the other terminals of the switches 15 are suitably grounded, as at 26. Normally, the current output of the magneto 25 passes by way of a conductor 21 to the primary coil 28 of a transformer employed in conjunction with the ignition system of the engine, said primary coil being grounded as at 29, the return side of the magneto includes a conductor 30 which is grounded as at 3 I.

In this circuit arrangement, it will be seen that when the switches l5 are normally positioned, there will be no flow of current through the conductor 24 and thence through the switches E5 to the ground, but the full current of the magneto will pass through the primary transformer coil 28. However, in the event of transverse distortion of the walking beam or the tilting of the equalizing bar I to a predetermined degree, the mercury in one of the switches l5 will contact with the terminal IT. This causes the current from the magneto, by reason of a decreased resistance, to flow through the control circuit, shunting the transformer coil 28, thus interrupting the ignition of the engine and effecting its immediate stopping. By this arrangement, the normally open control circuit may be readily utilized.

In the operation of apparatus of this type, it sometimes occurs that the hanger connections suspended from the head 5 of the walking beam will break or part. These connections including the pumping or drilling mechanism suspended therefrom, usually possess great weight, and the sudden release of this weight from the outer end of the walking beam is quite apt to injure or have a detrimental effect upon the walking beam and its associated driving mechanism, particularly if the operation of the prime mover is con-- tinued. The present invention, therefore, provides a switch mechanism S at the head end of the beam which functions automatically to arrest the operation of the prime mover in conjunction with the aforesaid control circuits in the event of the breakage or parting of the cables or rods suspended from the head 5.

The switch mechanism S in the specific embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, comprises a circular casing 32 which is mounted upon a bracket 33 fastened to the forward end of the beam 4 or, in this instance, the head 5 thereof. Pivotally mounted as at 34, within the casing 32, is the inner end of an actuating arm 35, the latter extending outwardly through an arcuate slot provided in the casing 32 and has its outer end connected with an angular member 35a. This member is mounted on the upper end of a rod 34, and adjustably connected as at 35b to the lower end of the rod 34 is an arm 36 which extends laterally from a clamp 31 I connected with a polish rod 38 of the drilling and pumping appliances. The polish rod is provided at its upper end with a clamp 39, around which pass hanger cables 40, the latter engaging with the arcuate outer surface of the head 5 and are connected with the upper portion or said head by means of a cable clamp 4|.

It will be observed that the rod 34' maintains a substantially constant distance at all times between the switch arm 35 and the clamp arm 39 carried by the polish rod 38. As long as this distance remains substantially constant, the position of the switch arm 35 remains, for all practical purposes, undisturbed. If, however, the hanger cables 40 should part or if the well pumping and drilling mechanism (not shown) suspended from the polish rod should break so as to release the weight thereof from the walking beam, the direct or reaction forces effect up and down movement of the rod 34' and the consequent oscillation of the switch arm 35, the oscillation of the arm 35 under these conditions being utilized to govern the functioning of the switch mechanism S.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, there is connected tothe inner end of the arm 35, within the casing 16, a plate 4i. Mounted upon this plate for adjustment about horizontal axes, are spring yokes 42 which carry the closed glass mercury-containing tubes 43 of a mercoid switch. Normally, the tubes 43 are disposed in reverse angular relationship, the angularity of each tube being such as to normally open the circuit passing through the same, that is, with the mercury in each tube out of engagement with the spacedterminals 44, as shown in Fig. '7. The yokes or holders 42 may be adjusted about their supporting axes to adjust the angularity of the tubes 3| as desired.

The terminals 44 of the tubes 43, as shown in Fig. 7, are connected by means of conductors Illa and l9a with the conductors l8 and I9 so that the mercury switches carried by the head end of the walking beam will function in the same manher in which the switches [5 carried by the equalizer bar in the matter of arresting the operation of the prime mover M.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides economical, auto matic and eiiicient switch means for protecting well pumping and drilling mechanism of the character set forth from the results of mechanical failure of its essential operating parts. If desired, the closing of the normally open control circuit may be utilized to operate a magnetic switch 45 and to complete an alarm circuit 46 containing an audible or visual signal 41. This signal may be disposed remotely from the well pumping and drilling mechanism, as for instance in a centralized control station, so that if injury should occur to any one of a number of pumping units in a given field, the disorder may be noted immediately at the control station and the condition rectified.

What is claimed is:

1. In emergency control apparatus for well pumping and drilling mechanism, a pivotally mounted oscillatory walking beam, a prime mover for actuating said walking beam, a normally open control circuit for governing the operation of said prime mover, and a pair of reversely inclined mercury switches positioned in said circuit, said switches being responsive to forces effecting transverse distortion of said walking beam to close said control circuit and arrest the operation of said prime mover.

2. In emergency control apparatus for well pumping and drilling mechanism, a pivotally mounted walking beam, a motor including a control circuit therefor, well pumping or drilling appliances suspended from the outer end of said walking beam, a switch governing the operation of said control circuit stationarily mounted on said beam contiguous to its outer end, said switch including an operating member, and a substantially rigid link uniting said operating member directly with said well pumping or drilling appliances.

3. In emergency control apparatus for well pumping and drilling mechanism, a pivotally mounted walking beam, a motor including a control circuit therefor, motion transmitting means between said motor and the inner end of said walking beam, a pumping head formed with the outer end of said walking beam, well pumping or drilling appliances suspended from said head, a switch for said control circuit mounted on said head, said switch including a movable operating member, and a substantially rigid link uniting the operating member of said switch with said well pumping or drilling appliances.

4. In emergency control apparatus of the character described, in combination, an oscillatory walking beam, a head formed with the outer end of said beam, well pumping or drilling appliances suspended from said head, a motor for operating said walking beam, said motor including a control circuit, a governing switch for said control circuit mounted on said head, a pivotally movable operating member for said switch, and a substantially rigid connecting link uniting said switch operating member with said appliances.

5. In well pumping and drilling mechanism, a pivotally mounted walking beam, a motor includ ing a control circuit therefor, motion transmitting means between said motor and the inner end of said walking beam, a polish rod hanger carried by the outer end of said beam, a polish rod suspended from said hanger, a switch mechanism in said motor control circuit carried by the outer end of said beam, said switch'havin a laterallydirected actuating arm, and an operating connection between said arm and said polish rod for effecting the movement of said arm upon predetermined variation in the normal distance between said polish rod and the outer end of said beam.

6. Emergency control apparatus for well pumping and drilling mechanism comprising a walking beam, a pump rod suspended from one end of said walking beam, a circuit controlling switch including a pivotally movable arm responsive to the action of gravity to control the operation of said switch, and a substantially rigid connection joined at one end with said pumping and drilling mechanism and having at its other end a readily detachable connection with the pivotal arm of said switch.

7, In well pumping and drilling mechanism of the type having a pivotally mounted walking beam, operating tool supporting means carried by the outer end of said beam, a prime mover for imparting motion to said beam and a control circuit for said prime mover, the combination of switch means provided adjacent the inner and outer ends of said beam and connected in said control circuit, an operating arm provided in connection with the switch at the outer end of said beam, and a member extending between said tool-supporting means and said switch operating arm, the switch means adjacent the inner end of said beam operating to discontinue the operation of the prime mover upon transverse distortion of said beam and the switch means at the outer end of said beam operating to discontinue the operation of the prime mover upon relative movement between the tool supporting means and said beam.

8. In ,well pumping and drilling mechanism of the type having a pivotally mounted walking beam, operating tool supporting means carried by the outer end of said beam, a prime mover for imparting motion to said beam and a control circuit for said prime mover, the combination of switch means provided adjacent the inner and outer ends of said beam and connected in said control circuit, the switch means adjacent the inner end of said beam operating to discontinue the operation of the prime mover upon transverse distortion of said beam and the switch means at the outer end of said beam operating to discontinue the operation of the prime mover upon relative movement between the tool supporting means and said beam.

9. In well pumping and drilling mechanism of the type having a pivotally mounted walking beam, operating tool supporting means carried by the outer end of said beam, a prime mover for imparting motion to said beam and a control circuit for said prime mover, the combination of a set of mercury switches positioned adjacent the inner and outer ends of said beam and movement between the tool supporting means and said beam.

10. A switch for well pumping rigs comprising a support, an arm pivotally mounted on said support for movement in response to gravitational force, a mercury switch carried by said arm, movement resisting means for said arm comprising a rod, and a readily releasable frictional connection between said operating rod and said switch arm.

CLIFFORD R. ATHY. 

